Difference between revisions of "Burson-Marsteller"

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===Market share/importance===
 
===Market share/importance===
  
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Whilst in recent years Burson-Marsteller slipped back from the number one spot it remains one of the largest PR firms in the world, and with recent restructuring looks set for strong growth. Since 1979 the company has been a part of the [[Young & Rubicam]] Inc. advertising conglomerate, which in turn was acquired by [[WPP]] Group plc {{ref|1}}, the global communications services company, in October 2000. Its revenues for 2000 totalled $175m in the US and $303m worldwide, the highest in its history.
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Whilst in recent years Burson-Marsteller slipped back from the number one spot it remains one of the largest PR firms in the world, and with recent restructuring looks set for strong growth. Since 1979 the company has been a part of the [[Young & Rubicam]] Inc. advertising conglomerate, which in turn was acquired by [[WPP]] Group plc <ref> [http://www.wpp.com WPP] ''WPP'', accessed 3 May 2002 </ref>, the global communications services company, in October 2000. Its revenues for 2000 totalled $175m in the US and $303m worldwide, the highest in its history.
  
 
In (year) Burson-Marsteller employed 2,000 people in more than 60 offices in 35 countries around the world. That gives it a more international presence than any other agency, which is both an advantage (the firm is still the first choice for clients looking for genuine global reach) and a disadvantage.
 
In (year) Burson-Marsteller employed 2,000 people in more than 60 offices in 35 countries around the world. That gives it a more international presence than any other agency, which is both an advantage (the firm is still the first choice for clients looking for genuine global reach) and a disadvantage.
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===History===
 
===History===
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{{ref|2}}
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<ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20040223191031/http://www.burson-marsteller.com/overview/history.html Overview] ''Burson Marsteller'', accessed 3 May 2002 </ref>
 
Founded in 1953 by [[Harold Burson]], a freelance PR man and [[Jim Marsteller]], owner of Marsteller Advertising, Burson-Marsteller has grown to become one of the largest PR agencies in the world and a market leader in all of the major areas of PR services.
 
Founded in 1953 by [[Harold Burson]], a freelance PR man and [[Jim Marsteller]], owner of Marsteller Advertising, Burson-Marsteller has grown to become one of the largest PR agencies in the world and a market leader in all of the major areas of PR services.
  
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In 1983 B-M's revenues exceeded those of [[Hill & Knowlton]] and in 1985 it was the first PR company to earn $100m in a year. The company’s expansion was relentless and yet more offices opened across the United states and around the world.
 
In 1983 B-M's revenues exceeded those of [[Hill & Knowlton]] and in 1985 it was the first PR company to earn $100m in a year. The company’s expansion was relentless and yet more offices opened across the United states and around the world.
  
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After years as the premier public relations agency, a position that became unquestionable after [[Hill & Knowlton|H&K]]'s partial collapse in the early 1990s, B-M saw its leadership position erode throughout that decade, thanks to internal problems and the fact that several other agencies improved dramatically over the same period. With restructuring however it regained strong growth and in 2000 earned $303m placing it fourth in the league table of global PR firms {{ref|3}}.
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After years as the premier public relations agency, a position that became unquestionable after [[Hill & Knowlton|H&K]]'s partial collapse in the early 1990s, B-M saw its leadership position erode throughout that decade, thanks to internal problems and the fact that several other agencies improved dramatically over the same period. With restructuring however it regained strong growth and in 2000 earned $303m placing it fourth in the league table of global PR firms <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20020626002305/http://www.holmesreport.com/holmestemp/story.cfm?edit_id=739&type_id=3 Burson Marsteller] ''Holmes Report'', accessed 20-6-2002 </ref>.
  
 
In 2000 [[Young & Rubicam]] was itself acquired by the [[WPP]] Group. So now Burson-Marsteller works in an even larger family of companies including its old rival [[Hill & Knowlton]].
 
In 2000 [[Young & Rubicam]] was itself acquired by the [[WPP]] Group. So now Burson-Marsteller works in an even larger family of companies including its old rival [[Hill & Knowlton]].
  
 
==Services==
 
==Services==
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{{ref|4}}
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<ref name="Practice"> [http://web.archive.org/web/20040209111914/http://bm.com/overview/practice.html Practice Descriptions] ''Burson Marsteller'', accessed 3 May 2002 </ref>
  
 
B-M offers the full range of PR services including government relations, crisis management, issues and reputation management, brand building, product marketing, and communications training, to name a few of the twenty services listed on its web-site. These services are delivered by seven 'practice' areas within the company: advertising/creative, brand marketing, corporate/financial, healthcare, media, public affairs and technology. [See below for details]
 
B-M offers the full range of PR services including government relations, crisis management, issues and reputation management, brand building, product marketing, and communications training, to name a few of the twenty services listed on its web-site. These services are delivered by seven 'practice' areas within the company: advertising/creative, brand marketing, corporate/financial, healthcare, media, public affairs and technology. [See below for details]
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===Practice structure===
 
===Practice structure===
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{{ref|11}}
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<ref name="Practice"/>
  
 
B-M structures its business around seven key practices or specialisations: advertising/creative, brand marketing, corporate/financial, healthcare, media, public affairs and technology.
 
B-M structures its business around seven key practices or specialisations: advertising/creative, brand marketing, corporate/financial, healthcare, media, public affairs and technology.
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The '''Brand Marketing''' practice employs around 150 people under the leadership of [[Linda Recupero]]. The practice offers a wide range of services toward the end of increasing market share for clients’ brands.
 
The '''Brand Marketing''' practice employs around 150 people under the leadership of [[Linda Recupero]]. The practice offers a wide range of services toward the end of increasing market share for clients’ brands.
  
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The '''Corporate/Financial''' practice handles all aspects of "perception management" of a company – "to help top management understand, enhance and manage the perceptions of their corporation held by key audiences, including shareholders and the investing community, the media and, by extension, the general public, employees and opinion makers." {{ref|12}}
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The '''Corporate/Financial''' practice handles all aspects of "perception management" of a company – "to help top management understand, enhance and manage the perceptions of their corporation held by key audiences, including shareholders and the investing community, the media and, by extension, the general public, employees and opinion makers." <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20031005200908/http://www.bm.com/overview/corp_pra.html Corporate/Financial] ''Burson Marsteller'', accessed  3 May 2002 </ref>
  
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The extraordinary growth and sophistication of the healthcare industry has prompted B-M to set up a separate practice just for healthcare companies. The '''Healthcare''' practice offers the complete range of PR services to healthcare companies from product marketing, to crisis management to long term issues management around complex and controversial subjects like biotechnology. B-M boasts that it can manage and even create "scientific and political consensus around issues" in the healthcare sector {{ref|13}}.
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The extraordinary growth and sophistication of the healthcare industry has prompted B-M to set up a separate practice just for healthcare companies. The '''Healthcare''' practice offers the complete range of PR services to healthcare companies from product marketing, to crisis management to long term issues management around complex and controversial subjects like biotechnology. B-M boasts that it can manage and even create "scientific and political consensus around issues" in the healthcare sector <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20031219020001/http://bm.com/overview/health_pra3.html Healthcare] ''Burson Marsteller'', accessed 3 May 2002 </ref>.
  
 
The '''Media''' practice is B-M's pool of expertise in exploiting the media to deliver chosen messages, what they call 'media relations', an essential part of any effective PR strategy. As well as 'media relations' the media practice also deals with internet-based PR, and communications training. Specialists with backgrounds in a wide range of different media are employed to ensure access to as many media sources as possible.
 
The '''Media''' practice is B-M's pool of expertise in exploiting the media to deliver chosen messages, what they call 'media relations', an essential part of any effective PR strategy. As well as 'media relations' the media practice also deals with internet-based PR, and communications training. Specialists with backgrounds in a wide range of different media are employed to ensure access to as many media sources as possible.
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==Subsidiaries==
 
==Subsidiaries==
  
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*[[Black Manafort, Stone & Kelly]] – a lobbying firm with offices in Washington D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia {{ref|14}}. The company keeps a low profile. It maintains no web site and is not even mentioned on Burson-Marsteller’s site. It is known to have worked for [[Phillip Morris]] {{ref|15}}, and to have conducted lobbying on behalf of the brutal Angolan rebel leader, [[Savimbi]]. {{ref|16}}
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*[[Black Manafort, Stone & Kelly]] – a lobbying firm with offices in Washington D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20120620213556/http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1993/04/mm0493_13.html Organisations] ''Multinational Monitor'', accessed 20 June 2002 </ref> <ref name="Mother"> [http://web.archive.org/web/20031013232804/http://www.motherjones.com/mother_jones/MJ96/kaplan.jump.html Tobacco Dole] ''Mother Jones Magazine'', 20 June 2002 </ref>. The company keeps a low profile. It maintains no web site and is not even mentioned on Burson-Marsteller’s site. It is known to have worked for [[Phillip Morris]] <ref name="Mother"/>, and to have conducted lobbying on behalf of the brutal Angolan rebel leader, [[Savimbi]]. <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20121201032951/http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1993/04/mm0493_05.html The Torturers' Lobby] ''Multinational Monitor'', accessed 20 June 2002 </ref>
 
*[[BKSH]] – B-M's public affairs/lobbying subsidiary handles most lobbying for B-M in the USA and Europe (see [[Burson-Marsteller#Practice Structure|Practice Structure]] above)
 
*[[BKSH]] – B-M's public affairs/lobbying subsidiary handles most lobbying for B-M in the USA and Europe (see [[Burson-Marsteller#Practice Structure|Practice Structure]] above)
 
*[[Prime Policy Group]] (PPG) a Burson-Marsteller unit. Clients include the Ukraine. O'Dwyers reported in March 2014 that PPG 'shepherded the push to win financial support for Ukraine from the International Monetary Fund and Congress'. <ref> Kevin McCauley, [http://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/2151/2014-03-28/burson-unit-pitches-ukraine.html Burson Unit Pitches Ukraine], Fri., Mar. 28, 2014 </ref>
 
*[[Prime Policy Group]] (PPG) a Burson-Marsteller unit. Clients include the Ukraine. O'Dwyers reported in March 2014 that PPG 'shepherded the push to win financial support for Ukraine from the International Monetary Fund and Congress'. <ref> Kevin McCauley, [http://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/2151/2014-03-28/burson-unit-pitches-ukraine.html Burson Unit Pitches Ukraine], Fri., Mar. 28, 2014 </ref>
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==People==
 
==People==
 
===Executive Board===
 
===Executive Board===
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{{ref|7}}
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<ref name="Board"> [http://web.archive.org/web/20031003152218/http://www.bm.com/overview/ex_board.html Executive Board] ''Burson Marsteller'', accessed 3 May 2002 </ref>
  
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*[[Harold Burson]] Founding Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, Harold Burson has been in PR for more than fifty years. He was once described by PR Week as "the century’s most influential PR figure" due to the market share of B-M and his innovative work. Now in his 80s, Burson stepped down as CEO in 1988, the company he co-founded in 1953. He still works at B-M for many long-term clients, including [[Philip Morris]], [[Merrill Lynch]] and [[Coca-Cola]]. He has no retirement plans {{ref|8}}.
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*[[Harold Burson]] Founding Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, Harold Burson has been in PR for more than fifty years. He was once described by PR Week as "the century’s most influential PR figure" due to the market share of B-M and his innovative work. Now in his 80s, Burson stepped down as CEO in 1988, the company he co-founded in 1953. He still works at B-M for many long-term clients, including [[Philip Morris]], [[Merrill Lynch]] and [[Coca-Cola]]. He has no retirement plans <ref> [http://enquirer.com/editions/2001/04/15/fin_hes_mr_public.html He's Mr. Public Relations] ''Cincinnati.com'', 14 April 2001, accessed 3 May 2002 </ref>.
  
 
*[[Donald Baer]] Worldwide Chair and Chief Executive Office. Former journalist and assistant managing editor at [[U.S. News & World Report]], was senior adviser to President [[Bill Clinton]] from 1994-1998, was senior executive vice president for strategy and development and an executive committee member at [[Discovery Communications from 1998-2007. Started working at Burson-Marsteller in 2008.
 
*[[Donald Baer]] Worldwide Chair and Chief Executive Office. Former journalist and assistant managing editor at [[U.S. News & World Report]], was senior adviser to President [[Bill Clinton]] from 1994-1998, was senior executive vice president for strategy and development and an executive committee member at [[Discovery Communications from 1998-2007. Started working at Burson-Marsteller in 2008.
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[[Image:BM-doorway.jpg|right|thumb|Doorway of Burson Marsteller Offices, Central London]]
 
[[Image:BM-doorway.jpg|right|thumb|Doorway of Burson Marsteller Offices, Central London]]
 
Burson-Marsteller has a history of employing environmentalists, especially in the UK. These have included:  
 
Burson-Marsteller has a history of employing environmentalists, especially in the UK. These have included:  
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*[[Des Wilson]] In 1989 Wilson was awarded ITN's 'Environmentalist of the Year' prize. In his years of political work he ran the UK campaign for lead free petrol, was Chairman of [[Friends of the Earth]] UK, directed the [[Campaign for Freedom of Information]] and ran a general election campaign for the [[Liberal Democrats]]. In 1993 he took the position of Director of Public affairs and Crisis Management at B-M, with a salary rumoured to be one of the highest in the PR industry at that time {{ref|19}}. He subsequently moved to [[BAA]] to highlight the 'environmental benefits' of a fifth terminal at Heathrow. {{ref|wilson}} .
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*[[Des Wilson]] In 1989 Wilson was awarded ITN's 'Environmentalist of the Year' prize. In his years of political work he ran the UK campaign for lead free petrol, was Chairman of [[Friends of the Earth]] UK, directed the [[Campaign for Freedom of Information]] and ran a general election campaign for the [[Liberal Democrats]]. In 1993 he took the position of Director of Public affairs and Crisis Management at B-M, with a salary rumoured to be one of the highest in the PR industry at that time. He subsequently moved to [[BAA]] to highlight the 'environmental benefits' of a fifth terminal at Heathrow.
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*[[Richard Aylard]] B-M's Corporate Social Responsibility unit was headed by Richard Aylard. Aylard was previously head of the [[Soil Association]], which certifies organic food and campaigns against GM crops and pesticides from 1998 to 2000 {{ref|20}}. He joined [[Thames Water]] in 2002 as Corporate Responsibility Director.
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*[[Richard Aylard]] B-M's Corporate Social Responsibility unit was headed by Richard Aylard. Aylard was previously head of the [[Soil Association]], which certifies organic food and campaigns against GM crops and pesticides from 1998 to 2000. He joined [[Thames Water]] in 2002 as Corporate Responsibility Director.
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*[[Gavin Grant]] Before joining B-M in November 1999, Grant was Director of Global Corporate and Public Affairs for [[The Body Shop]] International reporting directly to Anita and Gordon Roddick {{ref|21}}. Whilst there he had responsibility for coordinating The Body Shop's [[Ogoni Campaign]] which caused tremendous embarrassment for B-M's client [[Shell]].
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*[[Gavin Grant]] Before joining B-M in November 1999, Grant was Director of Global Corporate and Public Affairs for [[The Body Shop]] International reporting directly to Anita and Gordon Roddick<ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20030424073206/http://www.bm.com/bios/g_grant_rep_bio.html Gavin Grant] ''Burson Marsteller'', accessed 20 June 2002 </ref>. Whilst there he had responsibility for coordinating The Body Shop's [[Ogoni Campaign]] which caused tremendous embarrassment for B-M's client [[Shell]].
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*[[Simon Bryceson]] - ex-board member of [[Friends of the Earth]] and former consultant to [[Greenpeace]]. {{ref|bryceson}}
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*[[Simon Bryceson]] - ex-board member of [[Friends of the Earth]] and former consultant to [[Greenpeace]].<ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20050307184255/http://www.bryceson.com/html/profile.html Simon Bryceson profile], accessed march 2006
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*[[Peter Melchett]] - Lord Melchett's move to B-M was announced in January 2002, immediately after he stepped down as head of [[Greenpeace]] UK. Melchett maintained that his new job would give him more access to corporations in order to push his environmental agenda {{ref|17}}. The move is part of a 'hiring spree' for B-M's Corporate Social Responsibility Unit. B-M expects Lord Melchett's extensive experience of the NGO community, government and business to "provide unique insight for Burson-Marsteller clients." {{ref|18}}
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*[[Peter Melchett]] - Lord Melchett's move to B-M was announced in January 2002, immediately after he stepped down as head of [[Greenpeace]] UK. Melchett maintained that his new job would give him more access to corporations in order to push his environmental agenda. The move is part of a 'hiring spree' for B-M's Corporate Social Responsibility Unit. B-M expects Lord Melchett's extensive experience of the NGO community, government and business to "provide unique insight for Burson-Marsteller clients."
  
 
===APPC Register UK===
 
===APPC Register UK===
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==Governmental links==
 
==Governmental links==
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{{ref|23}}
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<ref name="Board">
  
 
===Revolving doors===
 
===Revolving doors===
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===Front groups===
 
===Front groups===
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*On three occasions in 2004/05, Burson-Marsteller was forced to step up transparency following criticism of its role in establishing and de facto running three front groups: The [[Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis]] (on behalf of [[Aventis]]), [[European Women for HPV Testing]] (on behalf of [[Digene Corporation]]) and The [[Bromine Science and Environment Forum]] (on behalf of major producers of bromine flame retardants). In all these cases, the involvement of the companies - let alone Burson-Marsteller - was initially hidden or kept vague. {{ref|trans}}
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*On three occasions in 2004/05, Burson-Marsteller was forced to step up transparency following criticism of its role in establishing and de facto running three front groups: The [[Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis]] (on behalf of [[Aventis]]), [[European Women for HPV Testing]] (on behalf of [[Digene Corporation]]) and The [[Bromine Science and Environment Forum]] (on behalf of major producers of bromine flame retardants). In all these cases, the involvement of the companies - let alone Burson-Marsteller - was initially hidden or kept vague.  
  
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*The company also has a history of working with the anti-environmental movement in the US and setting up corporate front groups such as the [[Business Council for Sustainable Development]], [[British Colombian Forest Alliance]], the [[Canadian Coalition for Clean and Renewable Energy]] or [[Australian Forest Protection Society]]. {{ref|greenbacklash}}
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*The company also has a history of working with the anti-environmental movement in the US and setting up corporate front groups such as the [[Business Council for Sustainable Development]], [[British Colombian Forest Alliance]], the [[Canadian Coalition for Clean and Renewable Energy]] or [[Australian Forest Protection Society]].  
  
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*B-M also set up anti-smoking front-groups. In the nineties it created the [[National Smokers Alliance]] in the US with money from [[Philip Morris]]. {{ref|trans}}
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*B-M also set up anti-smoking front-groups. In the nineties it created the [[National Smokers Alliance]] in the US with money from [[Philip Morris]].
  
 
===Repressive regimes===
 
===Repressive regimes===
 
B-M has a history of working for repressive regimes.
 
B-M has a history of working for repressive regimes.
 
====Biafra====
 
====Biafra====
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In the 1960s B-M worked for the Nigerian government to spin the crushing of the Biafran revolt. A subsidiary of Burson-Marsteller, [[Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelley]], also worked with the Nigerian military junta in the early nineties. During this time there were routine human rights abuses against protestors such as the Ogoni, who were non-violently campaigning against the oil-giant [[Shell]]. {{ref|greenbacklash}}
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In the 1960s B-M worked for the Nigerian government to spin the crushing of the Biafran revolt. A subsidiary of Burson-Marsteller, [[Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelley]], also worked with the Nigerian military junta in the early nineties. During this time there were routine human rights abuses against protestors such as the Ogoni, who were non-violently campaigning against the oil-giant [[Shell]].
  
 
====Spinning torture in Argentina====
 
====Spinning torture in Argentina====
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In the 1970s, after a military coup in Argentina, B-M was hired to improve the country's image. During this period, an estimated 35,000 people disappeared and thousands were tortured. Some of the torture techniques used during this period were ''el submarino'' (holding a person's head under water or excrement until near drowning), ''la picana'' (electric prod applied to the most sensitive parts of the body), rape, torture (tearing out toe nails) and putting live rats onto the body to feed on fresh wounds. {{ref|greenbacklash}} A book was written on the disappeared called ''Nunca Más'' ('Never More') {{ref|book}}.
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In the 1970s, after a military coup in Argentina, B-M was hired to improve the country's image. During this period, an estimated 35,000 people disappeared and thousands were tortured. Some of the torture techniques used during this period were ''el submarino'' (holding a person's head under water or excrement until near drowning), ''la picana'' (electric prod applied to the most sensitive parts of the body), rape, torture (tearing out toe nails) and putting live rats onto the body to feed on fresh wounds. A book was written on the disappeared called ''Nunca Más'' ('Never More').
  
 
====Indonesia====
 
====Indonesia====
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B-M has a history of working with major polluters.
 
B-M has a history of working with major polluters.
  
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*In the seventies B-M worked with [[Babcock and Wilcox]] after the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster. The following decade, it worked with [[Union Carbide]] after the Bhopal disaster in India, which caused death or injury to tens of thousands of people. Union Carbide orginally tried to blame the disaster on sabotage. {{ref|NI}} {{ref|greenbacklash}}
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*In the seventies B-M worked with [[Babcock and Wilcox]] after the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster. The following decade, it worked with [[Union Carbide]] after the Bhopal disaster in India, which caused death or injury to tens of thousands of people. Union Carbide orginally tried to blame the disaster on sabotage.
  
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*It has worked for the oil industry against clean air and climate change legislation, forming front groups such as [[Foundation for Clean Air Progress]]. Its clients have included: the [[American Petroleum Institute]], [[BP|British Petroleum]], [[Chevron]], [[Ford]] Motor Company, [[Mitsubishi]], [[Pennzoil Occidental Petroleum]], and the government of Saudi Arabia. {{ref|trans}} {{ref|greenbacklash}}
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*It has worked for the oil industry against clean air and climate change legislation, forming front groups such as [[Foundation for Clean Air Progress]]. Its clients have included: the [[American Petroleum Institute]], [[BP|British Petroleum]], [[Chevron]], [[Ford]] Motor Company, [[Mitsubishi]], [[Pennzoil Occidental Petroleum]], and the government of Saudi Arabia.
  
 
*B-M has also worked for [[Monsanto]] and the biotech body [[Europabio]] in Europe. A leaked memo prepared by Burson-Masteller gives us an insight into its PR. It argued that the biotech industry had to "Stay off the killing fields". It said:
 
*B-M has also worked for [[Monsanto]] and the biotech body [[Europabio]] in Europe. A leaked memo prepared by Burson-Masteller gives us an insight into its PR. It argued that the biotech industry had to "Stay off the killing fields". It said:
 
:"Public issues of environmental and human health risk are communications killing fields for bioindustries in Europe. As a general rule, the industry voice cannot be expected to prevail in public opposition to adversarial voices on these issues. All the research evidence confirms that the perception of the profit motive fatally undermines industry's credibility on these questions. It said that instead the industry had to 'Fight fire with fire'.  
 
:"Public issues of environmental and human health risk are communications killing fields for bioindustries in Europe. As a general rule, the industry voice cannot be expected to prevail in public opposition to adversarial voices on these issues. All the research evidence confirms that the perception of the profit motive fatally undermines industry's credibility on these questions. It said that instead the industry had to 'Fight fire with fire'.  
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:"For [[EuropaBio]] to make the transition from effective policy interlocutor to effective public communicator, it is essential to shift from issues-based communications to stories-based communications. There are no issues-orientated media with any broad appeal, and the selling of complex issues coverage is a difficult task in any event because it contains little or no news value. Good stories, on the other hand, go around the world in minutes. That's the way adversaries play. That's the way industry must play". {{ref|eb}}
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:"For [[EuropaBio]] to make the transition from effective policy interlocutor to effective public communicator, it is essential to shift from issues-based communications to stories-based communications. There are no issues-orientated media with any broad appeal, and the selling of complex issues coverage is a difficult task in any event because it contains little or no news value. Good stories, on the other hand, go around the world in minutes. That's the way adversaries play. That's the way industry must play". <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20130323020928/http://www.organicconsumers.org/bmplan.html Communications Programmes For EUROPABIO Prepared by Burson-Marsteller Government & Public Affairs] ''Organic Consumers'', January 1997,
  
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Other clients include the [[Iraqi National Congress]] and the Saudi Royal Family who were trying to avoid blame after the September 11th attacks on the US. {{ref|COE}}
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Other clients include the [[Iraqi National Congress]] and the Saudi Royal Family who were trying to avoid blame after the September 11th attacks on the US. <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20090327022559/http://www.corporateeurope.org/docs/lobbycracy/lobbyplanet.pdf Lobby Planet Guide The EU Quarter] ''Corporate Europe'', accessed 21st August 2007 </ref>
  
 
===Obesity===
 
===Obesity===
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Burson-Marsteller advertises a specialism on obesity on its website: {{ref|fat}}
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Burson-Marsteller advertises a specialism on obesity on its website: <ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20050214060002/http://www.bm.com/pages/industry/nutrition Obesity] ''Burson Marsteller'', accessed March 2006 </ref>
 
:Obesity and, in a broader sense, food/health/nutrition issues, arguably represent one of the biggest public health challenges in western societies today, with enormous repercussions for a variety of industries. Some see it as the modern-day equivalent to previous macro-issues like tobacco, chemical industry & environment, GMOs, etc. The WHO, the EU, national governments are all considering some regulations or recommendations to the general audience, the medical community or the business world. Indeed, companies increasingly have to carefully consider their positioning, strategy and messages on this issue.  
 
:Obesity and, in a broader sense, food/health/nutrition issues, arguably represent one of the biggest public health challenges in western societies today, with enormous repercussions for a variety of industries. Some see it as the modern-day equivalent to previous macro-issues like tobacco, chemical industry & environment, GMOs, etc. The WHO, the EU, national governments are all considering some regulations or recommendations to the general audience, the medical community or the business world. Indeed, companies increasingly have to carefully consider their positioning, strategy and messages on this issue.  
 
:Burson-Marsteller has the experience, track-record and credentials to help companies address the issue. We have a unique and comprehensive mix of capabilities and people, we have inroads into some of the key players and we understand how best to present the information to reporters.  
 
:Burson-Marsteller has the experience, track-record and credentials to help companies address the issue. We have a unique and comprehensive mix of capabilities and people, we have inroads into some of the key players and we understand how best to present the information to reporters.  
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:Fax: : +44 20 7430 1033
 
:Fax: : +44 20 7430 1033
  
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A complete list of the addresses of B-M offices worldwide can be obtained from B-M’s web site {{ref|9}} and at O’Dwyers PR Daily web site {{ref|10}}
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A complete list of the addresses of B-M offices worldwide can be obtained from B-M’s web site <ref> [http://www.bm.com/overview/locales/ Overview locales] ''Burson Marsteller'', accessed 3 May 2002 </ref> and at O’Dwyers PR Daily web site <ref> [http://www.odwyerpr.com/pr_firms_database/prdb21.html PR firms database] ''Odwyerpr'', accessed 20 June 2002 </ref>
  
 
==Affiliations==
 
==Affiliations==
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*[[Bibliothèque Solvay]]
 
*[[Bibliothèque Solvay]]
  
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*[[Council of Public Relations Firms]] The Council of Public Relations Firms is a leading industry body for the PR industry. Its membership comprises 122 PR companies including all of the top ten companies (of which B-M is one) and two-thirds of the top fifty. {{ref|22}}
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*[[Council of Public Relations Firms]] The Council of Public Relations Firms is a leading industry body for the PR industry. Its membership comprises 122 PR companies including all of the top ten companies (of which B-M is one) and two-thirds of the top fifty.<ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20141006080957/http://prfirms.org/ PR Firms] ''Council of Public Relations'', accessed 20 June 2002 </ref>
  
 
==Powerbase Resources==
 
==Powerbase Resources==
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==Notes==
 
==Notes==
  
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#{{note|1}} http://www.wpp.com, date viewed 3-5-2002
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<references/>
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#{{note|2}} B-M’s web site, http://www.bm.com/overview/history.html, date viewed 3-5-2002
+
 
−
#{{note|3}} Holmes Report, http://www.holmesreport.com/holmestemp/story.cfm?edit_id=739&type_id=3, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
−
#{{note|4}} http://www.bm.com/overview/practice.html, date viewed 3-5-2002
 
−
#{{note|7}} Except where noted info is from B-M’s web site: http://www.bm.com/overview/ex_board.html, date viewed 3-5-2002
 
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#{{note|8}} Klingbeil A, "He’s Mr Public Relations", ''Cincinnati Enquirer'' 15-4-2001, http://enquirer.com/editions/2001/04/15/fin_hes_mr_public.html, date viewed 3-5-2002
 
−
#{{note|9}} http://www.bm.com/overview/locales/, date viewed, 3-5-2002
 
−
#{{note|10}} http://www.odwyerpr.com/pr_firms_database/prdb21.htm, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
−
#{{note|11}} http://www.bm.com/overview/practice.html, date viewed, 3-5-2002
 
−
#{{note|12}} http://www.bm.com/overview/corp_pra.html, date viewed 3-5-2002
 
−
#{{note|13}} http://www.bm.com/overview/health_pra3.html, date viewed 3-5-2002
 
−
#{{note|14}} Multinational Monitor, http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1993/04/mm0493_13.html, date viewed 20-6-2002; Mother Jones Magazine, http://www.motherjones.com/mother_jones/MJ96/kaplan.jump.html, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
−
#{{note|15}} Mother Jones Magazine, http://www.motherjones.com/mother_jones/MJ96/kaplan.jump.html, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
−
#{{note|16}} Multinational Monitor, http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1993/04/mm0493_05.html, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
−
#{{note|17}} ''Guardian'', 8 Jan 2002
 
−
#{{note|18}} B-M’s web site, http://www.bm.com/newsroom/releases/2002/press2002-01-08.html, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
−
#{{note|19}} ''Marketing'', 20 May 1993
 
−
#{{note|20}} ''Guardian'', 8 Jan 2002
 
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#{{note|21}} B-M’s web site, http://www.bm.com/bios/g_grant_rep_bio.html, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
−
#{{note|22}} http://www.prfirms.org, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
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#{{note|23}} B-M’s web site. http://www.bm.com/overview/ex_board.html, date viewed 20-6-2002
 
−
 
−
* {{note|bryceson}} [http://www.bryceson.com/html/profile.html Simon Bryceson's website - profile], undated, accessed March 2006.
 
−
* {{note|eb}} [http://www.organicconsumers.org/bmplan.html ''Communications Programmes For EUROPABIO Prepared by Burson-Marsteller Government & Public Affairs'', on Organic Consumers website], January 1997.
 
−
*{{note|CEO}} Corporate Europe Observatory, 3rd July 2005, [http://www.corporateeurope.org/docs/lobbycracy/lobbyplanet.pdf  Lobby Planet Guide The EU Quarter] Last Accessed 21st August 2007
 
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* {{note|fat}} [http://www.bm.com/pages/industry/nutrition Obesity - Burson-Marsteller website], undated, accessed March 2006.
 
 
[[Category:Lobbying firms]]
 
[[Category:Lobbying firms]]
 
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==References==
 
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[[Category:GM]][[Category:PR Operators (GM)]][[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Fracking]]
 
[[Category:GM]][[Category:PR Operators (GM)]][[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Fracking]]

Revision as of 11:30, 20 October 2014

Twenty-pound-notes.jpg This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.
Foodspin badge.png This article is part of the Foodspin project of Spinwatch.
Burson Marsteller Offices, Central London

Burson-Marsteller is one of the biggest PR and lobbying firms in the world. It is owned by communications conglomerate WPP.

Overview

Burson-Marsteller (B-M) is one of the largest public relations (PR) agencies in the world and also the most notorious. When helping its industry clients to escape environmental legislation or sprucing up the image of some of the most repressive governments on Earth, B-M brings to bear state of the art techniques in manipulating the mass media, legislators and public opinion.

In spite of B-M's claims that the best way to deal with problems is to put one's own house in order, the usual effect of PR is to maintain the status quo. By manipulating public opinion PR diverts attention away from difficult issues and creates the illusion of change so that a company or government can go about business as usual without having to worry about its reputation. By lobbying government and creating 'astroturfing' campaigns PR helps to maintain a legislative environment on which industry can avoid real change.

Market share/importance

Whilst in recent years Burson-Marsteller slipped back from the number one spot it remains one of the largest PR firms in the world, and with recent restructuring looks set for strong growth. Since 1979 the company has been a part of the Young & Rubicam Inc. advertising conglomerate, which in turn was acquired by WPP Group plc [1], the global communications services company, in October 2000. Its revenues for 2000 totalled $175m in the US and $303m worldwide, the highest in its history.

In (year) Burson-Marsteller employed 2,000 people in more than 60 offices in 35 countries around the world. That gives it a more international presence than any other agency, which is both an advantage (the firm is still the first choice for clients looking for genuine global reach) and a disadvantage.

B-M's reliance on international business makes it vulnerable to economic downturns or under-performing offices, as well as currency fluctuations. In recent years the Asian market was under-performing, then Europe, which was flat last in 1999. But B-M Europe has now moved back to a geographic structure - a reversal of the practice area commitment the agency made five years ago - more suited to local conditions, and that should spur growth. Meanwhile, the firm is picking up high-profile wins in Asia, like the Hong Kong government's economic development program, and expanding in Latin America, where it has a strong e-commerce practice.

History

[2] Founded in 1953 by Harold Burson, a freelance PR man and Jim Marsteller, owner of Marsteller Advertising, Burson-Marsteller has grown to become one of the largest PR agencies in the world and a market leader in all of the major areas of PR services.

Harold Burson’s original vision for the new company was to model it on Hill & Knowlton then the clear leader in the PR sector. He quickly took the company into new fields of PR wanting to diversify into new fields from his original speciality in business-to-business communications. B-M quickly set up offices across the USA and began to pursue larger and more prestigious clients. By 1959 revenues had reached nearly half a million dollars.

Although not yet a top-tier PR firm, B-M took the gamble of moving into the European marketplace in the 1960s, a move that only Hill & Knowlton had previously taken. B-M established offices in London and Paris as well in Washington DC, and Los Angeles during the sixties.

Throughout the 1970s B-M continued to expand. In 1970 it entered the field of consumer public relations with its acquisition of Theodore R. Sills Inc. And it opened further offices in Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sao Paolo, Bahrain and in Russia. In 1979 B-M was acquired by the Young & Rubicam group of companies, and could thus begin to integrate its services with a family of other companies practising PR, lobbying and advertising.

In 1983 B-M's revenues exceeded those of Hill & Knowlton and in 1985 it was the first PR company to earn $100m in a year. The company’s expansion was relentless and yet more offices opened across the United states and around the world.

After years as the premier public relations agency, a position that became unquestionable after H&K's partial collapse in the early 1990s, B-M saw its leadership position erode throughout that decade, thanks to internal problems and the fact that several other agencies improved dramatically over the same period. With restructuring however it regained strong growth and in 2000 earned $303m placing it fourth in the league table of global PR firms [3].

In 2000 Young & Rubicam was itself acquired by the WPP Group. So now Burson-Marsteller works in an even larger family of companies including its old rival Hill & Knowlton.

Services

[4]

B-M offers the full range of PR services including government relations, crisis management, issues and reputation management, brand building, product marketing, and communications training, to name a few of the twenty services listed on its web-site. These services are delivered by seven 'practice' areas within the company: advertising/creative, brand marketing, corporate/financial, healthcare, media, public affairs and technology. [See below for details]


Practice structure

[4]

B-M structures its business around seven key practices or specialisations: advertising/creative, brand marketing, corporate/financial, healthcare, media, public affairs and technology.

Activities within the Advertising/Creative practice are conducted by three subsidiary companies. According to B-M’s web site Marsteller Advertising is a "full-service advertising agency specializing in corporate, business-to-business and issue-related (or public information) communications," whilst Burson-Marsteller Productions handles event management and TPS "offers a wide range of communications services, from designing and producing Web sites, interactive CD-ROMS and presentation graphics to providing video production and broadcast services."

The Brand Marketing practice employs around 150 people under the leadership of Linda Recupero. The practice offers a wide range of services toward the end of increasing market share for clients’ brands.

The Corporate/Financial practice handles all aspects of "perception management" of a company – "to help top management understand, enhance and manage the perceptions of their corporation held by key audiences, including shareholders and the investing community, the media and, by extension, the general public, employees and opinion makers." [5]

The extraordinary growth and sophistication of the healthcare industry has prompted B-M to set up a separate practice just for healthcare companies. The Healthcare practice offers the complete range of PR services to healthcare companies from product marketing, to crisis management to long term issues management around complex and controversial subjects like biotechnology. B-M boasts that it can manage and even create "scientific and political consensus around issues" in the healthcare sector [6].

The Media practice is B-M's pool of expertise in exploiting the media to deliver chosen messages, what they call 'media relations', an essential part of any effective PR strategy. As well as 'media relations' the media practice also deals with internet-based PR, and communications training. Specialists with backgrounds in a wide range of different media are employed to ensure access to as many media sources as possible.

Public Affairs/Government Relations work in the USA and Europe is carried out by B-M's wholly owned subsidiary, BKSH, whilst in the rest of the world it is undertaken by B-M’s own offices.

In the States BKSH's head office is naturally in Washington DC, B-M boasts of "strong working relationships with decision makers and opinion leaders at the centres of power. In Washington, these range from Congress to the White House, from the State Department to the Pentagon, from national associations to the National Press Club. We understand the Washington D.C. community's own unique rhythm and set of unspoken rules, and we are skilled at negotiating for our clients to maximum effect."

BKSH's European HQ is in Brussels with a network of offices in the major European capitals each staffed with experts in the local political systems.

Technology was the first of the 'practices', formed in 1994. Concentrating mostly on electronic technologies. Like the healthcare practice, the technology practice provides a broad range of services, which might otherwise be provided by other practices, specifically to companies that need specialist knowledge of technology issues.

Subsidiaries

  • Black Manafort, Stone & Kelly – a lobbying firm with offices in Washington D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia [7] [8]. The company keeps a low profile. It maintains no web site and is not even mentioned on Burson-Marsteller’s site. It is known to have worked for Phillip Morris [8], and to have conducted lobbying on behalf of the brutal Angolan rebel leader, Savimbi. [9]
  • BKSH – B-M's public affairs/lobbying subsidiary handles most lobbying for B-M in the USA and Europe (see Practice Structure above)
  • Prime Policy Group (PPG) a Burson-Marsteller unit. Clients include the Ukraine. O'Dwyers reported in March 2014 that PPG 'shepherded the push to win financial support for Ukraine from the International Monetary Fund and Congress'. [10]

People

Executive Board

[11]

  • Harold Burson Founding Chairman of Burson-Marsteller, Harold Burson has been in PR for more than fifty years. He was once described by PR Week as "the century’s most influential PR figure" due to the market share of B-M and his innovative work. Now in his 80s, Burson stepped down as CEO in 1988, the company he co-founded in 1953. He still works at B-M for many long-term clients, including Philip Morris, Merrill Lynch and Coca-Cola. He has no retirement plans [12].
  • Donald Baer Worldwide Chair and Chief Executive Office. Former journalist and assistant managing editor at U.S. News & World Report, was senior adviser to President Bill Clinton from 1994-1998, was senior executive vice president for strategy and development and an executive committee member at [[Discovery Communications from 1998-2007. Started working at Burson-Marsteller in 2008.
  • Patrick Przybyski Worldwide Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Formerly director of planning and analysis, worldwide controller and director of financial reporting at Young and Rubicam advertising and COO/CFO at Wunderman, New York.
  • Jeremy Galbraith CEO, Europe, Middle East & Africa/ Global Chief Strategy Officer.
  • Jay Leveton Worldwide Executive Vice President / CEO, Penn Schoen Berland.
  • Patrick Ford Worldwide Vice Chair / Chief Client Officer / Chairman, Asia Pacific.

Key UK staff

UK Leadership Team

Environmentalists

Doorway of Burson Marsteller Offices, Central London

Burson-Marsteller has a history of employing environmentalists, especially in the UK. These have included:

  • Des Wilson In 1989 Wilson was awarded ITN's 'Environmentalist of the Year' prize. In his years of political work he ran the UK campaign for lead free petrol, was Chairman of Friends of the Earth UK, directed the Campaign for Freedom of Information and ran a general election campaign for the Liberal Democrats. In 1993 he took the position of Director of Public affairs and Crisis Management at B-M, with a salary rumoured to be one of the highest in the PR industry at that time. He subsequently moved to BAA to highlight the 'environmental benefits' of a fifth terminal at Heathrow.
  • Richard Aylard B-M's Corporate Social Responsibility unit was headed by Richard Aylard. Aylard was previously head of the Soil Association, which certifies organic food and campaigns against GM crops and pesticides from 1998 to 2000. He joined Thames Water in 2002 as Corporate Responsibility Director.
  • Gavin Grant Before joining B-M in November 1999, Grant was Director of Global Corporate and Public Affairs for The Body Shop International reporting directly to Anita and Gordon Roddick[13]. Whilst there he had responsibility for coordinating The Body Shop's Ogoni Campaign which caused tremendous embarrassment for B-M's client Shell.
  • Simon Bryceson - ex-board member of Friends of the Earth and former consultant to Greenpeace.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

March 2014-May 2014

James Atkins | Daniel Batty | Kevin Bell | Charlotte Budd | Matt Carter | Stephen Day | Toby Denselow | Ele Emmerson | Adam Fisch | Paul Grand | Michael Hartt | Kate Hawker | Adam Honeysett-Watts | Tony Jackson | Annabel Jaram | Matthew Keirle | Hattie Leach | Hugo Legh | Mike Love | Andrew Mackay | Ben Maynard | Clarence Mitchell | Joseph Musgrave | Katie Myler | Elisabeth Neal | Harriet OHalloran | Amanda Pierce | Anna Richardson | Dan Rolle | Sophie Ross | John Young | Jonathan Zokay [14]

December 2013-February 2014

James Atkins | Kevin Bell | Matt Carter | Toby Denselow | Ele Emmerson | Adam Fisch | Paul Grand | Michael Hartt | Adam Honeysett-Watts | Matthew Keirle | Hattie Leach | Hugo Legh | Mike Love | Andrew Mackay | Clarence Mitchell | Katie Myler | Anna Richardson | John Young | Jonathan Zokay [15]

September 2013-November 2013

James Atkins | Matt Carter | Toby Denselow | Ele Emmerson | Iddo Goldfarb | Paul Grand | Michael Hartt | Adam Honeysett-Watts | Matthew Keirle | Hattie Leach | Hugo Legh | Mike Love | Andrew Mackay | Clarence Mitchell | Katie Myler | John Young | Jonathan Zokay [16]

June 2013-August 2013

James Atkins | Matt Carter | Toby Denselow | Ele Emmerson | Iddo Goldfarb | Michael Hartt | Matthew Keirle | Hattie Leach | Hugo Legh | Mike Love | Andrew Mackay | Clarence Mitchell | Katie Myler | John Young | Jonathan Zokay [17]

March 2013-May 2013

Maria Allen | James Atkins | Matt Carter | Toby Denselow | Ele Emmerson | Iddo Goldfarb | Michael Hartt | Matthew Keirle | Hattie Leach | Hugo Legh | Mike Love | Andrew Mackay | Clarence Mitchell | Katie Myler | Felicity Sincock | Anna Tobur | John Young | Jonathan Zokay [18]

December 2012-February 2013

Maria Allen | James Atkins | Matt Carter | Andrew Cregan | Toby Denselow | Ele Emmerson | Tom Fern | Iddo Goldfarb | Michael Hartt | Tamara Jackson | Matthew Keirle | Hugo Legh | Mike Love | Andrew Mackay | Clarence Mitchell | Katie Myler | Felicity Sincock | Anna Tobur | John Young | Jonathan Zokay [19]

Former Staff

  • Chris Komisarjevsky US President & CEO April 1995 – October 1998 and President and CEO Worldwide October 1998 – May 2005.
  • Ken Rietz former Chief Operating Officer and Chair of the global public affairs practice. Now runs his own own PR firm, PSS Strategies.
  • John Maltese Chief Financial Officer Worldwide 1986-2006. Maltese joined Burson-Marsteller in 1986. He began as an Assistant Controller for the Eastern Region, was promoted to Controller of the Americas in 1988, Director of Finance, worldwide, in 1991. In mid-1993 he took the opportunity to manage Young & Rubicam Inc.'s financial accounting subsidiary, Shared Financial Services Company, and was recently promoted to his current position. Before B-M, Mr. Maltese spent eight years as controller of New York based advertising agency, N.W. Ayer. Before the communications industry, he worked at manufacturing company Gulf & Western, and for five years at Citibank.
  • Per Heggenes former Chief Knowledge & Insights Officer Worldwide and chief executive UK resigned in 2004. Previously, he was chairman of the Corporate Practice in Europe from April 1998. Before that, he was Chief Operating Officer of B-M Europe when he was instrumental in rolling out the new client practice structure throughout Europe. Per joined Burson-Marsteller Oslo as an account executive in 1982. He is now CEO of the Ikea Foundation.
  • Chet Burchett President & CEO USA until 2004, Chet Burchett joined B-M in 1998. He has had numerous roles including president and CEO of Burson-Marsteller Midwest and U.S. Practice Chair for the Brand Marketing practice. Chet has 20 years of news media and public relations experience. He is a specialist in reputation management. He has developed and executed programs in the areas of corporate communications, public affairs, consumer marketing, sports marketing and business-to-business.
  • Bill Rylance President & CEO of the Asia/Pacific region until December 2007 and vice-chairman from December 2007 to December 2008, Bill Rylance joined Burson-Marsteller in 1982, working in London and the Middle East. In 1986 he was assigned to Korea to manage B-M's worldwide public relations programme for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In 1989, Bill established Merit Communications, Korea's first international public relations consultancy. In a decade, Merit became the largest PR firm in Korea. Bill personally provided communications and media relations counsel for the Government of Korea, working directly with the Office of the President. B-M bought Merit Communications in 1999 and Bill became President and CEO of Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific, responsible for all operations in Asia Pacific. He is now the founder and CEO of Watatawa (March 2009-present), a strategic communications firm in Singapore.
  • Carlos Lareau Holding roles as Managing Director, Southern Europe and CEO Continental Europe, Carlos Lareau has led B-M/Iberia since 1996 before which he held several positions in B-M and was also Vice President of Communications and EU Affairs in a major pharmaceutical company. He has a 14 year experience in Communications, preceded by a career in economic and political journalism in Spain, the US and Latin America. He is now founder & managing partner of Conduit Market Engineers and a non-executive senior partner at Fleishman Hillard.
  • Celia Berk Appointed Managing Director of Human Resources for Burson-Marsteller Worldwide in November 1998. Ms. Berk joined Burson-Marsteller in January 1997 in the then newly created position of Managing Director, Human Resources for the United States. Prior to joining Burson-Marsteller, Ms. Berk was at Reuters America (1988-1998) in roles encompassing human resources, organizational planning, training, quality and internal communications. Before that, Ms. Berk was Administrator of the Harkness Fellowships of The Commonwealth Fund. Is now Chief Talent Officer at Young & Rubicam Group.
  • Thomas Blach Thomas Blach joined Burson-Marsteller in 1989, and became country manager of Burson-Marsteller, Denmark in 1992. From January 1997 to June 1999 he Chaired the European Public Affairs Practice. In 1998 he was also Market Leader in Brussels. In July 1999 Thomas Blach became Chairman of the Nordic Region. Formerly the Managing Director for the Nordic Region, Central, and Northern Europe and Co-CEO Europe. Set up Firstline Communication in 2005, and is currently Managing Partner at the company.

Governmental links

Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

Obesity

Burson-Marsteller advertises a specialism on obesity on its website: [20]

Obesity and, in a broader sense, food/health/nutrition issues, arguably represent one of the biggest public health challenges in western societies today, with enormous repercussions for a variety of industries. Some see it as the modern-day equivalent to previous macro-issues like tobacco, chemical industry & environment, GMOs, etc. The WHO, the EU, national governments are all considering some regulations or recommendations to the general audience, the medical community or the business world. Indeed, companies increasingly have to carefully consider their positioning, strategy and messages on this issue.
Burson-Marsteller has the experience, track-record and credentials to help companies address the issue. We have a unique and comprehensive mix of capabilities and people, we have inroads into some of the key players and we understand how best to present the information to reporters.
Specifically, Burson-Marsteller can help with
  • Tracking Issues and Business/Political Intelligence - identify trends and flag key events and political decisions that influence and accelerate the development of the issue.
  • Constituency Relations - actions and on-going campaigns to shape the perceptions of key groups that are active in defining the media / public opinion and political agenda - trade and heath organizations, groups, etc.
  • Corporate Positioning - how to create a single differentiating communication platform
  • Public Affairs and Governmental Relations - how to engage in a dialogue with governmental organizations and prepare for forthcoming legislation
  • Media Relations - how to balance the debate in the media
  • Brand Building - how to strategically position a brand or product

Tunisian Elections

In September 2014, it was announced Burson-Marsteller are representing Tunisia’s Ennahda Party to improve its image abroad. The party were reportedly behind terror attacks against tourist hotels in the 1980s and one of the group's leaders called for the destruction of Israel. The party formed a coalition government during the 2011 Arab Springs uprising, however, departed government after reportedly "coming under pressure for failing to stop terrorism and keep the economy on an even keel".[21][22]

UK Lobbying clients

June 2014-August 2014

Addax Petroleum | Amazon | Bromine Science and Environmental Forum | Dow Corning Corporation | Ennahda (Tunisian Political Party)| Findus | Government of Iceland | HCA International | I-Comp | Independent Schools | Inspectorate | INEOS | London Borough of Camden | Smartmatic Services Corporation | State of Law Coalition (Prime Minister of Iraq)| Steria Limited | Uber | Valspar[23]

March 2014-May 2014

Addax Petroleum | Affinitext | Afton Chemical Limited | All Progressives Congress (Nigerian opposition party) | Amazon | Bromine Science and Environmental Forum (BSEF) | Dow Corning Corporation | HCA International | I-Comp - www.i-comp.org | Independent Schools Inspectorate | London Borough of Camden | Lundbeck | Rothschild Group | SAP | SSCL | Steria Limited | The Coca-Cola Company | Valspar [14]

December 2013-February 2014

Affinitext | Afton Chemical Limited | Amazon | Danone Baby Nutrition Limited | ECFMU | Government of Iceland | I-Comp | London Borough of Camden | Risk Principles Limited | Steria Limited [15]

September 2013-November 2013

Accenture | Affinitext | Afton Chemical Limited | Amazon | Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Danone Baby Nutrition Limited | ECFMU | Government of Iceland | Heineken UK Limited | I-Comp | Leo Laboratories Limited | Norgine Pharmaceuticals Limited | Risk Principles Limited [16]

June 2013-August 2013

Accenture | Affinitext | Afton Chemical Limited | Amazon | Danone Baby Nutrition Limited | ECFMU | Eurovia | Government of Iceland | Heineken UK Limited | I-Comp | Leo Laboratories Limited | Lloyds Banking Group | Norgine Pharmaceuticals Limited | Risk Principles Limited [17]

March 2013-May 2013

Accenture | Affinitext | Afton Chemical Limited | Amazon | Danone Baby Nutrition Limited | ECFMU | Government of Iceland | Heineken UK Limited | I-Comp | Leo Laboratories Limited | Lloyds Banking Group | Public Fundraising Regulatory Association [18]

December 2012-February 2013

Accenture | Affinitext | Afton Chemical Limited | Amazon | Danone Baby Nutrition Limited | ECFMU | Government of Iceland | Heineken UK Limited | I-Comp | Lloyds Banking Group | Pilkington Group Limited | Public Fundraising Regulatory Association | Talisman Energy Norge [19]

2008

Lobbying clients listed in 2008 include:[24]
Afton Chemicals | Alix Partners | Alstom | Anheuser Busch | BSEF | ConnectEd | Danone | Engineering & Technology Board | Peel Holdings | HSBC | Huawei | Neste Oil | Nickel Institure | Nutricia | Microsoft | RIM | Tate & Lyle

Locations

  • Head Office
Burson-Marsteller
230 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
Phone: +1 212 614 4000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +1 212 614 4000      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: + 1 212 598 6928
  • London Office
Burson-Marsteller
24-28 Bloomsbury Way
London WC1A 2PX
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7831 6262
Fax: : +44 20 7430 1033

A complete list of the addresses of B-M offices worldwide can be obtained from B-M’s web site [25] and at O’Dwyers PR Daily web site [26]

Affiliations

B-M are members of many corporate lobby groups and other organisations. Among these are:

  • Council of Public Relations Firms The Council of Public Relations Firms is a leading industry body for the PR industry. Its membership comprises 122 PR companies including all of the top ten companies (of which B-M is one) and two-thirds of the top fifty.[27]

Powerbase Resources

Further reading

Articles

Books

  • <ref> Andrew Rowell, Green Backlash, Routledge, 1996, p114-121 Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
  • <ref> Argentine National Commission on the Disappeared, Nunca Más, Never Again: A Report, Part I: The Repression, Faber & Faber, 1986 Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
  • <ref> Ruiz C, Burson-Marsteller: PR for the New World OrderCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
http://home.intekom.com/tm_info/ge_bm.htm
  • Stauber J and Rampton S, 1995, Toxic Sludge is Good For You: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry
  • Stauber J and Rampton S, 2000, Trust Us, We’re Experts: How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Your Future
  • Rowell A, 1996, Green Backlash: Global Subversion of the Environment Movement
the PR industry’s leading trade journal online
another good industry source
published by the Center for Media and Democracy this is the leading source of critical coverage of the PR industry

Notes

  1. ↑ WPP WPP, accessed 3 May 2002
  2. ↑ Overview Burson Marsteller, accessed 3 May 2002
  3. ↑ Burson Marsteller Holmes Report, accessed 20-6-2002
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Practice Descriptions Burson Marsteller, accessed 3 May 2002
  5. ↑ Corporate/Financial Burson Marsteller, accessed 3 May 2002
  6. ↑ Healthcare Burson Marsteller, accessed 3 May 2002
  7. ↑ Organisations Multinational Monitor, accessed 20 June 2002
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Tobacco Dole Mother Jones Magazine, 20 June 2002
  9. ↑ The Torturers' Lobby Multinational Monitor, accessed 20 June 2002
  10. ↑ Kevin McCauley, Burson Unit Pitches Ukraine, Fri., Mar. 28, 2014
  11. ↑ Executive Board Burson Marsteller, accessed 3 May 2002
  12. ↑ He's Mr. Public Relations Cincinnati.com, 14 April 2001, accessed 3 May 2002
  13. ↑ Gavin Grant Burson Marsteller, accessed 20 June 2002
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014 ‘’APPC’’, accessed 1 October 2014
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Register for 1st December 2013 – 31 February 2014 ‘’APPC’’, accessed 1 October 2014
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Register for 1st September 2013 - 30th November 2013 ‘’APPC’’, accessed 1 October 2014
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Register for 1st June 2013 - 31st August 2013 ‘’APPC’’, accessed 1 October 2014
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Register for 1st March 2013 - 31st May 2013 ‘’APPC’’, accessed 1 October 2014
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Register for 1st December 2012 - 28th February 2013 ‘’APPC’’, accessed 1 October 2014
  20. ↑ Obesity Burson Marsteller, accessed March 2006
  21. ↑ Robert Mann Burson-Marsteller Draws Ire for Working With Islamist Political Party Adweek, 29 September 2014, accessed 8 October 2014
  22. ↑ Ian Griggs Burson-Marsteller to represent Islamist party in Tunisia ahead of elections PR Week, 29 September 2014, accessed 8 October 2014
  23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named June
  24. ↑ APPC register, to December 2008
  25. ↑ Overview locales Burson Marsteller, accessed 3 May 2002
  26. ↑ PR firms database Odwyerpr, accessed 20 June 2002
  27. ↑ PR Firms Council of Public Relations, accessed 20 June 2002
  28. ↑ [http://archive.corporateeurope.org/lobbycracy/houseofmirrors.html House of Mirrors Burson-Marsteller Brussels lobbying for the bromine industry] Corporate Europe Observatory, January 2005, accessed 20 October 2014
  29. ↑ Conal Walsh 'Fur flies as Greenpeace grandee takes PR shilling' The Observer, 13 January, 2002
  30. ↑ Andre Carothers 'The Green Machine' New Internationalist, August 1993
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